|
A Call to Service/Balancing the Books (2001 Class Response)
In the wake of recent events it is appropriate to focus attention on globalism and the effects of technology.With each new technology it seems the world becomes a little smaller. Each new technology brings the potential to create wealth and wealth can create power; power to do good, power to do evil. In concert with Academy of Dentistry International’s mission statement, let us affirm that true wealth is not as much a measure of what we have, as it is a measure of how little we need. The most valuable technologies are those, which make wealth for all. A technology, which fails to improve lives of the rich and the poor alike, is potentially dangerous. Also today, it’s appropriate to remember those upon whom valuable technologies were used recently as weapons. We remember, as well, all who fell in the wake of that destruction. Especially now, the Academy’s work in Belize, Brazil, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, and India; programs such as “Bridging the Gap”, “Salud y Paz”, and “Thou-sand Smiles” must shine as points of light illuminating the human spirit. These programs make the world smaller through sharing gifts of health and education with sustained actions.
My comments tonight, titled “A Call to Service/ Balancing the Books” addresses both action and sustainability. Several years ago, a dental group from Nebraska visited a site in Honduras where 700 children had been enrolled in a new sponsored care program. Upon arriving we found things incredibly organized. Seven hundred medical records complete with immunization dates, medical histories and 700 blank dental charts lay before us. Patients had been triaged into Class I (apparently good dental health), Class II (some caries evident) and Class III (severe problems). There were 418 Class III patients.
As we stood wondering who’d gone to all this trouble, in walked Dr. Hans Dethlefs, a recent med school graduate. He’d prepared well for our arrival even contracting a local carpenter to build wooden dental chairs on adjustable bases. Following the introductions, Hans’ service philosophy, his love for teaching and love for healing became evident. When asked what brought him to Nueva Ocotepeque, Honduras Hans recounted a lengthy recruitment, application/acceptance process leading up to his “three year contract”. As the discussion continued I asked how the sponsoring agency was able to recruit a young, licensed, US physician, when Nebraska College of Dentistry was having a tough time filling vacancies with new dental graduates. “After all, even with student loan forgiveness” I said, “ entry teaching positions only pay enough to meet living expenses.” “Apparently your sponsoring agency has a loan forgiveness program”, I surmised.
After a short silence Hans said ”Yes, something like that”. “I am here on a debt forgiveness plan, but the plan I’m on doesn’t have anything to do with money”. All of a sudden the phrase balancing the Books went way beyond dollars and cents issues. A few years ago, my son Evan needed to reprioritize certain responsibilities so I told him we’d be going to Honduras where he’d work over a propane burner scrubbing dental instruments and monitoring a pressure cooker converted into a steam autoclave. “It’s important that you to pay attention to what you’re doing” I told him “these pressure cookers can explode and dental instruments make nasty flesh wounds”. I’m betting sometime early in the blood borne pathogen class or afterwards during the Hepatitis A/B vaccinations, Evan began to realize certain responsibilities were serious. After 10 days in Honduras he came home completely changed. He did not share the details of his most recent “call to service”, but he voluntarily joined me again this past summer in Honduras. Much of my job with GC America involves travel. Savings accrue through purchasing non-upgradeable, economy class tickets. Some of those funds get transferred to the dental mission budget. I thank GC America for answering that “call to service” assisting travel for those who would otherwise not be able to make the trip. Equally impressive are the dentists, dental students, hygienists and assistants who maintain, “the trip’s more meaningful if I have to raise my own funds.” Lawrence Meskin quantified dentists’ generosity in a recent editorial. His numbers suggest that generosity in the dental profession is both substantial and pandemic. Functions such as tonight’s ceremony suggest that generosity is not only pandemic but also contagious. I avoid asking volunteers what called them to service. After all, it’s personal. Another reason I don’t ask is because it’s often obvious. Volunteers answer “calls to service” out of love. They volunteer because they love what they do and they love sharing what they do with others. I am convinced that the Academy of Dentistry International continues to grow tonight because of the love dentist’s hold for their profession. It’s one way to say “thanks” for getting to do a job we love. So I leave you tonight with my contention that “calls to service” are based on love. Love comes in many forms and is exchanged many ways. The value of love is infinite yet it’s available for free. The harder we work to give it away, the faster it accumulates.
Love sustains us. In the end, the love you take will equal the love you make. Balancing the books is automatic whenever love’s audited. I’m thankful to be part of a profession that I love and I’m thankful to have a wife who understands. And, I’m grateful to ADI for allowing me to share these thoughts of love and service with you tonight.
Dr. Nels Ewoldsen
Volunteerism
The Academy of Dentistry International has a legacy, indeed a goal, of providing continuing dental education often coupled with direct care special projects to the developing and emerging nations of the world. Special dental care projects within ones own country are also encouraged. At times, grants are provided by the Academy to "start-up" research and related studies in the provision and efficacy of the care to be provided.
The Academy's leaders have often called for a national and international "clearing agency" to identify and potentially coordinate the efforts of the many different individuals, groups, and organizations that, on a rather informal and unscheduled manner, provide "volunteer dental services".
Such a registry, if currently in operation could, perhaps, provide the contact person or liaison that would list the dentists and accompanying health care providers who donate their services in these humanitarian and often educational programs.
Organizations with international programs as Health Volunteers Overseas (of which the Academy is an associate member), Rotary International, C.O.A.D. (San Diego), Religious communities etc. provide opportunities for volunteerism. However the Academy is aware of many other instances that continually provide the greater numbers of dentists who "volunteer" for programs away from their native land but receive little if any recognition for their contribution to the "betterment of the human condition".
Please furnish the Academy's Central Office the names of these "volunteer dentists", a brief history or chronicle of their efforts/program and photos if available. It is proposed that an appropriate venue be selected to so recognize there dentists and their program(s) with Certificates and publication in the International Communicator. Through this ADI newsletter distributed to the membership in over 55 countries and other reference sources, other dentists will find avenues to volunteer. After all to give back to the dental profession is one of the tenants of the Academy of Dentistry International!
Send to:
Volunteerism Listings
P.O. Box 307
Hicksville, Ohio 43526-0307 U. S. A.
Tel: + (419) 542-0101
Fax: + (419) 542-6883
email: rramus@bright.net
|
International Programs: Volunteerism 
